Generalized network modeling: Network extraction as a coarse-scale discretization of the void space of porous media
File(s)PhysRevE.96.013312.pdf (3.67 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Raeini, AQ
Bijeljic, B
Blunt, MJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A generalized network extraction workflow is developed for parameterizing three-dimensional (3D) images of porous media. The aim of this workflow is to reduce the uncertainties in conventional network modeling predictions introduced due to the oversimplification of complex pore geometries encountered in natural porous media. The generalized network serves as a coarse discretization of the surface generated from a medial-axis transformation of the 3D image. This discretization divides the void space into individual pores and then subdivides each pore into sub-elements called half-throat connections. Each half-throat connection is further segmented into corners by analyzing the medial axis curves of its axial plane. The parameters approximating each corner—corner angle, volume, and conductivity—are extracted at different discretization levels, corresponding to different wetting layer thickness and local capillary pressures during multiphase flow simulations. Conductivities are calculated using direct single-phase flow simulation so that the network can reproduce the single-phase flow permeability of the underlying image exactly. We first validate the algorithm by using it to discretize synthetic angular pore geometries and show that the network model reproduces the corner angles accurately. We then extract network models from micro-CT images of porous rocks and show that the network extraction preserves macroscopic properties, the permeability and formation factor, and the statistics of the micro-CT images.
Date Issued
2017-07-20
Date Acceptance
2017-07-01
Citation
PHYSICAL REVIEW E, 2017, 96 (1)
ISSN
2470-0045
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
Volume
96
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American Physical Society. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
Sponsor
Total E&P UK Limited
Total E&P UK Limited
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000405926200007&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
4200055124
4300003454
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Physics, Mathematical
Physics
PORE-SCALE
2-PHASE FLOW
CAPILLARY-PRESSURE
ELECTRICAL-RESISTIVITY
RELATIVE PERMEABILITIES
IMAGES
WETTABILITY
SIMULATION
TRANSPORT
GEOMETRY
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 013312